Italian Ferrari Challenge: battle for the top honours starts at Mugello
![]()
Mugello (Scarperia), 24 September – The Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli tackles its penultimate round this weekend at the Mugello circuit, in the run up to the Ferrari World Finals which take place at the same venue from 2 to 6 November. That event also brings the curtain down on the Corse Clienti’s racing season, with competitors in the Italian, European and North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli joined for the first time by the newly established Asia Pacific championship, as they all battle it out for the title of world champion. Thirty seven cars took to the track today for two qualifying sessions to determine the grid for tomorrow’s two races. Matteo Malucelli will start from pole position in both races. Quickest of those in the Coppa Shell were Alexandr Skryabin in the first session and Andrii Kruglyk in the second.
In the Trofeo Pirelli, Matteo Malucelli driving for the Motor/Malucelli team, set a fastest time of 1.54.931 in first qualifying, outpacing Bjorn Grossmann and Stefano Gai, both of them running for Rossocorsa. Of the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, Andrii Kruglyk (Rossocorsa) beat the rest to take pole (1.56.449), ahead of his team-mate Mario Molteni and Daniele Di Amato (CDP), while of those running the F430 Challenge, fastest was Giovanni Cappelletti (Rossocorsa/Pellin) in a time of 2.00.843, ahead of Bruno Bollini (Motor/Modena) and Sergio Rota (Motor/Piacenza).
Pole in the second session for the main category went again to Malucelli, followed by Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) and Bjorn Grossmann (Rossocorsa). In the Coppa Shell second session, Andrii Kruglyk was fastest in 1.55.887, ahead of Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) and Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa). The quickest lap for the F430 drivers went to Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), with Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram) and Sergio Rota (Motor/Piacenza), second and third respectively.
The two races take place tomorrow, starting at 9.25 and 14.25 and, as usual, will be shown live on Sky. Race 1 will be repeated on 26 September at 11 and at 21.20 on Sky Sport 2, while the second race will be shown on the 26th at 22.15 and the 27th at 11.00 on Sky Sport 2.